The weekend in MLS featured the matchup in Washington between the two top teams in each conference. The much-hyped match between the leaders in the West, Los Angeles FC, and the leaders in the East, DC United, was more lopsided than expected. Diego Rossi and Carlos Vela destroyed DC United in front of a packed house at Audi Field. The match was never in question as it was 3-0 at the half, behind two goals from Rossi and one from Vela. Wayne Rooney picked up a silly red card in the 52nd minute, putting DC United down to 10 men and crushing any hopes for a comeback. Rossi capped off his hat trick in the 76th minute and giving LAFC a massive three points on the road.
The other team in Los Angeles, the LA Galaxy, also picked up a big victory on the road. Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his fourth goal of the season, helping the Galaxy leave Vancouver with the win. Ibrahimovic once again was a major factor in the match, playing a part in the first goal. The match started off with excitement and disappointment. Less than a minute into the match, the Whitecaps were given a penalty after Jorgen Skjelvik committed a foul inside of his own box. Up stepped Ali Adnan, who tried the paneka on his penalty attempt. The defender completely squandered the attempt, killing any momentum for Vancouver.
When you try a Panenka in front of Zlatan… 🙈 pic.twitter.com/ccbZ311dnN
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 6, 2019
Out east, the Montreal Impact continued to stay afloat without Ignacio Piatti. The Impact drew 0-0 with New York City FC, who have had it rough all season. Even with Montreal down to 10 men, NYCFC was unable to find a winner. North of the border, Alejandro Pozuelo dialed back his game from his sensational debut but did tally an assist in Toronto FC’s 2-2 draw with the Chicago Fire. In a back and forth match, it was Toronto who had to come back to tie the Fire, staying unbeaten on this early season.
More major news coming out of Chicago, it was reported by Paul Tenorio of The Athletic that the Fire are in negotiations with the Village of Bridgeview to get out of their lease and move back to the city, thus playing at Soldier Field. This would be a major move for one of the MLS original clubs.
The Chicago Fire is indeed in negotiations to buy out its lease with the Village of Bridgeview and move to the city, multiple sources confirm to @TheAthleticSCCR: https://t.co/aQhNgfFITJ pic.twitter.com/SF2q9AP7XQ
— Paul Tenorio (@PaulTenorio) April 5, 2019
In Orlando, Nani scored his first two goals in MLS, helping Orlando City SC overcome an early second-half deficit to knock off the Colorado Rapids, 4-3. Nani has been a major part of the success so far this season for Orlando City.
The 2019 season has been hell so far for the Portland Timbers, and that hell continued in San Jose, California. The Quakes snapped a 13-match losing streak that dated back to last season. Portland has lost four straight matches and is in serious danger of falling completely out of any playoff race. The Timbers have seven more matches on the road before they open up at home at Providence Park on June 1 against LAFC. The Timbers, who are sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference with one point, must find a way to pick up points during the next month and a half.
Sporting Kansas City, the last hope for MLS in the Concacaf Champions League, lost 5-0 at the hands of Monterrey in the semifinal round. Peter Vermes had his Sporting KC team playing well before they headed south to face the Mexican giants. Vermes fielded a first-class lineup, but Monterrey scored early and never let off the gas, dashing any hopes of Sporting KC advancing to the Champions League Final.
Below is the schedule for MLS clubs in action this week.
Upcoming schedule
Tuesday
DC United vs. Montreal Impact – 8 p.m.
Wednesday
Colorado Rapids vs. Seattle Sounders – 9 p.m.
Thursday
Sporting Kansas City vs. Monterrey – 9 p.m. (Concacaf Champions League)
Friday
Chicago Fire vs. Vancouver Whitecaps – 8:30 p.m.
Saturday
Montreal Impact vs. Columbus Crew – 1 p.m.
Houston Dynamo vs. San Jose Quakes – 3 p.m.
Seattle Sounders vs. Toronto FC – 4 p.m.
Minnesota United vs. New York City FC – 5 p.m. (ESPN2)
New England Revolution vs. Atlanta United – 7:30 p.m.
FC Dallas vs. Portland Timbers – 8 p.m.
Colorado Rapids vs. DC United – 9 p.m.
Real Salt Lake vs. Orlando City SC – 9 p.m.
LA Galaxy vs. Philadelphia Union – 10:30 p.m.
Los Angeles FC vs. FC Cincinnati – 10:30 p.m.
Sunday
Sporting Kansas City vs New York Red Bulls – 7 p.m. (FS1)
As always, stay tuned to Cincinnati Soccer Talk for all things FC Cincinnati when it heads west to take on the red hot LAFC.
@iamchrisasbrock for @CincySoccerTalk
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